Chapter 50:

A Change in Plan

Captain Ukitake's voice carried down to the grounds where the three women were training. "Kuchiki!" he called to the Soul Reaper. "Yes, sir! I just received the report too." the woman replied. "The Kidō Corps are working on opening the gate! Go to the Senkaimon in front of the barracks!" Ukitake ordered urgently. Rukia started to move, replying, "Yes, sir!" "Wait, Rukia! I'll go with you!" Orihime Inoue called after the black-haired woman but Heather grabbed her arm. "Heather?" the girl questioned looking at her friend. Heather answered, "I don't think that's a very good idea." "She's right. I told you when we came here, you don't have a hell butterfly. If you try to pass through the Senkaimon with me, you'll end up in the Dangai, the border between the World of the Living and the Soul Society." Rukia reminded the girl.

The captain used Shunpo and was beside the three women. "I just ordered the outer wall to be stabilized so you can safely pass through the Dangai. It will take a little time, but you'll be able to return to the World of the Living. I know you're in a hurry, but you have to stay calm. Understand?" he inquired. Orihime replied, "Yes, sir." "Don't look like that, Orihime." Rukia added, "I'll be waiting on the other side." "Okay." Orihime responded with a determined look.

"Ms. Inoue! Ms. Orihime Inoue! The outer wall of the Dangai has been stabilized! You can pass through now!" one of the Kidō Corps members called out the young girl. Orihime dashed passed them, "Thank you! Thank you so much!" "Hey! Wait up!" Heather hollered as she ran to catch up with the girl. Before she could make it past the pathways entrance, the woman felt a strong force holding onto her belt. The multi-color haired woman looked behind her to find Ukitake there and she asked him awkwardly, "Can I help you?"

"You have to stay here." The white-haired captain replied. "What? Why?" Heather questioned straightening up and turned to look at her friend, "I went last time. If it's about comparing Mayuri to a pedophile, that's all I could come up with at that moment in time." Ukitake looked baffled for a moment and shook his head while saying, "I don't want to know." "Then why did things change all of a sudden?" she could not help but ask. The man raised an eyebrow, "You were never supposed to leave your captain's side. Shunsui allowed you to go places inside the Seireitei while tracking your spirit energy. He had received a scolding while you were gone since he is still quite technically your mentor."

The woman's shoulders sagged and lightly hung her head. "What about Orihime?" she inquired looking at Ukitake. He smiled softly and replied, "She'll be accompanied by two escorts. Don't worry." Heather looked from the man and to the Dangai entrance, remembering what will happen next and bit her lip thinking on how much it sucked to be in her position. "I know, it's just I'll never forgive myself if something changes for the worst and someone winds up hurt." The man gave her an understanding look, "It's out of any of our control now. You aren't responsible for making sure that everything goes according to plan for you were never a part of it." "Yeah, but—" she started but was cut off. Putting an end to the subject at hand, Ukitake interjected, "Go find Shunsui, he's been sulking a little since you've taken to sleeping in his guest room lately."